WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER SETS RECORD VISITS FOR YEAR 7,017,658 VISITS! 2,098,003 VISITORS MADE 6 VISITS A DAY EVERY DAY. 63,330 UNIQUE VISITORS MADE 133,730 VISITS IN DECEMBER. WPCNR AVERAGED 17,284 VISITORS A WEEK, VISITING 31,270 TIMES.

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WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From the Westchester County Board of Legislators. January 7, 2017:

Friday, the Board of Legislators’ (BOL) Republicans submitted Legislation that would require all gun show operators who stage a gun show at any location in Westchester County to adopt the operational guidelines recommended by New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman.

Procedures this proposed law will require are:

1)  All guns brought into the gun show by private sellers are tagged so that, upon exiting, the operator can determine if guns were sold and that a proper background check was performed.

2)  Post conspicuous signs throughout the shows that give written notice to all dealers and lay out in online promotional materials that makes clear that New York State law requires that a National Instant Criminal Background Check (NICS) must be completed prior to all firearm sales or transfers, and it’s a crime not to do so.

3) Inform all gun show staff of the requirements of posting signs and conducting NICS and provide access to a dealer who is authorized to conduct a NICS at cost.

4) Limit the number of access doors at the show so that sellers and buyers have to enter and exit through an area where the NICS procedures can be monitored.

5) Use reasonable means, including police patrols, to prevent illegal gun sales outside of the building, including the parking lot, and have law enforcement at gun show to watch for illegal sales.

BOL Minority Leader, Legislator John Testa (R) Peekskill, says the Republicans proposed legislation is offered as a compromise to legislation that would ban gun shows at the Westchester County Center.  “We have proposed a common-sense approach that memorializes the guidelines set forth by the Attorney General without marginalizing or stigmatizing the thousands of lawful gun owners in Westchester County.”  Testa said.  “Simply banning gun shows at the County Center still allows, in fact, encourages gun show operators to find private venues to hold gun shows where there is no opportunity for oversight by the County.  The legislation we have submitted extends the Attorney General’s very specific and common sense guidelines to every gun show that would be held at any location thereby insuring safety and accountability for gun show operators in all of our communities across Westchester.”

BOL Vice Chairman Jim Maisano worked closely with the Westchester County Attorney in crafting the compromise legislation.  “We’ve taken great care to write legislation that protects the constitutional rights of sportsmen, hunters and other lawful gun owners, while ensuring that all gun transactions and acquisitions that take place at gun shows in Westchester County follow the highest safety and security protocols. If our law passes, Westchester County will have the strongest gun show regulations in New York State.”

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SEAN PICA

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County Legislator Virginia Perez Chairing joint Committee Meeting Monday, with Legislator Benjamin Boykin, (right), discussing the legislation to ban gun shows being staged on county property. Photograph, courtesy, Westchester County Board of Legislators

WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From County Legislator Virginia Perez. January 4, 2017:

“Ten years ago this month, my beloved younger brother Martin was shot and killed in the stairwell of a public housing building in Yonkers while working as a food delivery person.  My life and the lives of my family were forever changed that day.  Not just because of the loss we’ve experienced but because of how that loss has informed how I view the world and issues like public safety, criminal justice and guns.

“I will be voting in favor of the proposed legislation to ban gun shows at the Westchester County Center.  I will also vote in favor of the proposed local law to adopt guidelines established by Attorney General Eric Schneiderman to regulate the sale of weapons at guns shows throughout Westchester County.  My brother’s shooting was a major motivating influence in my decision to enter public service and so I will support any proposal that makes Westchester County residents more safe when it comes to guns.

“The gun that killed my Brother Martin was not bought at a gun show.  In fact we will never know exactly how that weapon came to be in the hands of the eighteen year old man who shot and killed my brother because it was acquired illegally, on the street, outside of New York State without the oversight of any law enforcement or government entity.  The majority of gun deaths that are happening to our young men and women in urban communities are not the result of legally regulated guns that were acquired at a gun show or gun shop, they are the result of people carrying guns completely outside the rule of law.

“After the debating is over and the gun show has come and gone, I will urge my colleagues to stand with me in advocating for stricter mandatory minimum sentences and less plea bargains for anyone caught carrying an illegal gun.  According to recent statistics, less than half the defendants arrested for carrying an illegal loaded gun received a state prison sentence.”

Legislators Discuss Guns Show Legislation on Tuesday at Joint Committee Meeting Chaired by Legislator Perez

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WPCNR ALBANY ROUNDS. From the Governor’s Press Office. January 4, 2017:

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that two men in the City of Newburgh were arrested and charged with illegally selling synthetic marijuana and violating state tax law.

The arrests and charges that were made are part of a series of statewide enforcement actions that have resulted in an increased police presence to combat the illegal sale of K2 in communities throughout New York.

“Make no mistake: K2 and other synthetic drugs are dangerous and a risk to public health and safety,” Governor Cuomo said. “Selling this poison is illegal and this administration will continue to do everything in its power to get K2 off the streets and hold accountable those who continue to break the law.”

Under current law, an owner of an establishment, as well as any other person possessing, distributing, selling or offering prohibited synthetic marijuana for sale, will face a fine up to $500 and/or up to 15 days in jail. Civil penalties include a fine up to $2,000 per violation.

Synthetic marijuana is marketed as legal and typically consists of plant material coated by chemicals, which are supposed to mimic THC, the active chemical compound in naturally grown marijuana.

The drugs are marketed as incense, herbal mixtures, or potpourri in order to mask their true purpose. Brand names for substances include Spice, K2, Green Giant, Smacked, Wicked X, AK-47, Geeked Up, Ninja, Caution, Red Giant, Scooby Snax, and Keisha Kole. 

The New York State Police Community Narcotics Enforcement Team – Hudson Valley, working in conjunction with the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance, the New York State Department of Health, City of Newburgh Police Department, and the Orange County District Attorney’s Office Friday seized 111 packets of suspected synthetic marijuana from Manhattan Deli, located at 212 Broadway in Newburgh. The location was also found to have forged cigarette tax stamps, unstamped cigarettes, marijuana, and illegal possession of a weapon.

Samples of the seized products were analyzed by the Department of Health’s Wadsworth Center laboratory in Albany, and tested positive for 5-fluoro-ADB, FUB-PB-22, XLR-11, NM2201, AB-CHIMINACA and MMB-FUBINACA, six synthetic cannabinoids as defined in Section 9.1 of Title 10 of the Official Compilation of Codes, Rules and Regulations of the State of New York.

Following the lab tests, Department of Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker immediately moved to close the store.

Hemyar M. Almaflehi, 28, of Walden and the owner of the store, was charged with Criminal Possession Forged Instrument 1st Degree (forged cigarette tax stamps), a Class C Felony; Possession of Unstamped Cigarettes for Purpose of Sale, a Misdemeanor under state tax law; Criminal possession of marihuana 5th degree, a Class B Misdemeanor; Unlawful Possession of Marihuana, a Violation; and 111 counts of violations of the Department of Health regulation banning the possession of synthetic cannabinoid substances.


Omar Nagi, 22, of Newburgh and a clerk at the store, was charged with Criminal Possession Forged Instrument 1st Degree (forged cigarette tax stamps), a Class C Felony; Possession of Unstamped Cigarettes for Purpose of Sale, a Misdemeanor under state tax law; Criminal Possession of Marihuana 5th Degree, a Class B Misdemeanor; Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 7th Degree, a Misdemeanor; three counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon 4^th Degree, a Misdemeanor; and 111 counts of violations of the Department of Health regulation banning the possession of synthetic cannabinoid substances.

State Police Superintendent George P. Beach II said, “I want to commend the outstanding work done on this case by our Community Narcotics Enforcement Team, along with our state and local partners. Synthetic Cannabinoids are dangerous substances which have damaging impacts to a user’s health as well as to our communities as a whole. We will continue to work with our partners to crack down on the sale of these illegal drugs.”

Department of Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker said, “Synthetic drugs continue to pose a threat to the health and safety of all New Yorkers. Under Governor Cuomo’s leadership, the Department is working collaboratively with other state agencies to not only educate the public of the dangers of these substances, but take aggressive steps to eliminate them from our communities.”

New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services Commissioner Arlene González-Sánchez said, “Synthetics have no purpose other than to cause harm. I applaud Governor Cuomo, the State Police and our other State agency partners for their continued efforts to remove these poisons from our streets.”

Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler said, “The Orange County District Attorney’s Office will use every means at our disposal to prevent businesses from endangering the public and encouraging addiction through the sale of synthetic drugs. I agree with the Governor that this problem must be addressed both by enforcement of criminal laws and by action through regulatory authorities. I thank the New York State Police and the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance for their work on this investigation.”

Lieutenant Richard Carrion of the Newburgh Police Department said, “The City of Newburgh Police greatly appreciates the support we receive from our local and state law enforcement partners. Drugs, including new synthetic drugs, destroy the fabric of communities and are a major contributor to the violence that affects the safety of our citizens. We look forward to the continued partnerships that can help us keep our city safe.”

Last July, New York stepped up statewide enforcement efforts to ensure that businesses fully comply with all applicable laws, including the 2012 emergency regulations banning the manufacture, sale, and distribution of synthetic marijuana.

Additionally, the Governor directed that the Department of Health’s Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement, the State Liquor Authority and the New York State Gaming Commission increase their oversight efforts and revoke store owners’ liquor and lottery licenses if they are found to be illegally peddling K2. The State continues to vigorously pursue all available civil, criminal, and administrative remedies against any business or business owner found to be manufacturing, possessing for sale or selling illegal synthetic marijuana.